Polarization

doi:10.1117/3.2660873.ch2

Polarization

Book: Fundamentals of Optics: An Introductory Course

Author(s): Yobani Mejía-Barbosa

Published: 2023

https://doi.org/10.1117/3.2660873.ch2

Abstract

According to classical physics, light is an electromagnetic wave and its properties are obtained from Maxwell’s equations. One of these properties is that light is a transverse wave; i.e., the electric and magnetic vectors (optical field) vibrate orthogonally to the direction of wave propagation. If we assume that the light source is composed of oscillators that emit electromagnetic energy, then in general, the directions of the electric and magnetic vectors are random. However, it is possible to maintain the vibration of the resulting electric (magnetic) vector in a fixed plane or following an elliptical or circular curve. In such a case, the wave is said to be polarized. This chapter defines polarization and shows some of its applications.

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CHAPTER 2
52 PAGES

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